January 2017 posts

01/30/2017

I've got some high hopes of getting a good deal of "selfish sewing" done for myself this year and I'm planning hoping to use "Project Sew It" and the themes that Celina picked to sort of give me that extra little push that I need for motivation. I'm looking forward to the challenge!

That being said, I'm having a tough time of it already! Why?

Well, I'm an indecisive lady, to put it mildly, and all month long I've been ogling patterns and fabrics and waffling between this and that and the other thing...

I started the year off quickly with a make that I had hoped to squeeze in before Christmas, but didn't have time for...

A super simple and comfy plaid rayon blend (from Joann) tiny pocket tank. Aside from the fact that I need to iron it...I love this tank, it's such an easy shirt to throw on under a cardigan.

And that brings me to some of my waffling...this month's "Project Sew It"theme is "sweater". Oh man there are so many different sweater patterns floating around out there right now...I really couldn't decide! So, I used my new tank as inspiration and...instead of buying a new pattern, I decided to use what I had...

I made the biggest size of the cardi, but shortened it a bit using the size 10 pattern, but the long length of the size 7. I'm only 5'2" which I why I thought I'd give the kid's pattern a try, I figured if it didn't work out then I could always pass it along to Violet.

It doesn't wrap around me all the way and, in hindsight, perhaps I shouldn't have shortened it quite as much as I did, but I really didn't want a long cardigan...

But really it's exactly what I was hoping for it to be...a soft and cozy sweater to toss on over a tank on those chilly, but not cold days.

I really love it! It's perfectly snuggly and easy to wear, and while it might not be a sweater sweater it is made out of sweater knit so it counts! Right?

I think Violet might be secretly (or not so secretly) disappointed that it worked out...because I know she loves it too!

So, two "selfish sewing" makes thus far...but man, I've got to say...I'm still having a tough time deciding on what to make next!

01/27/2017

When we decided last minute (the day before) to attend the Woman's March on Washington we found ourselves scrambling to get "march ready" in an afternoon. One of the things that we needed, was a way to carry necessities, like water, snacks, tissues...yada yada...you get the picture! Typically I simply toss everything into a backpack and that's that, but, because of the crowds and security, marchers were allowed only to bring backpacks if they were a certain size and they had to be clear. All of which totally makes sense. Of course, who owns such a backpack? Not I.

But, with a few supplies: a pair of 54" shoe laces, a giant ziploc bag (I used an XXL one that I already had on hand) and a sewing machine...

I had just what we needed!

Seriously, this was one of those moments where I was like, "Thank goodness I sew!" and then I kind of laughed at myself...because, you know, I needed a clear backpack...so why not make one? Sometimes, it's hard not to have a giggle at your own creative ingenuity!

But, two bags only took about 15 minutes to make and they worked really well! They are still holding strong after a day of marching and wearing! I'm thinking that these will be super useful for future events, running races, baseball games and more!

So, maybe you might find yourself in need someday too.

And in which case here's how to make one yourself!

Start with an XXL ziploc bag, measure 16" up from the bottom of the bag, cut across. Next, fold the bag in half and cut, this will give you two bags about the size of 16" tall and 12" wide. (Do not cut the bottom edge or the finished side edge!)

Stitch along the unfinished long edge with a 1/4" seam allowance, then stitch a tight zigzag along the outer edge as well to reinforce the edge. Next, fold the top edge toward the inside about 1", edgestitch it down to make a casing for the shoelace straps. Be sure to leave an opening at both sides about 1" for the shoelaces to ties to exit.

Take one end of one shoelace and stitch near the bottom corner of the bag using tight zigzag stitches. Additionally, I tied a knot at the end and stitched that down as well for added support.

Next feed the shoelace up and into the casing, feed it all the way around and exit from the side it entered. Repeat the same process with the other side. Pull the strings tight and...you are done!

Pack the bag up with your necessities...

Pull the shoelaces tight and tie it up...

And you are all set and ready to go!

I really found this to be quite sturdy and comfortable to wear (as did my husband). Obviously we didn't overload it with heavy things, but there were apples and two bottles of water and more...

I'm really pretty excited with the way it turned out!

And...for the kiddos...

Gallon sized ziplocs with a shoelace sewn on worked well for them to sling across their bodies. Though I will say that next time I will poke the shoelace through bag first, then tie a knot and then stitch it to the bag to reinforce it better as their mobile and boisterous bodies jumping around did tear the shoelaces off once and we ended up poking the shoelace through and tying it in the end.

Either way you go...these simple ziploc bags/backpacks are perfect for last minute on the go needs!

01/26/2017

If you follow me on Instagram you likely saw that I spent much of my last two weeks sewing up "Pink Pussy Hats" in preparation for last weekends "Woman's March on Washington". I sewed up 68 hats in total and donated them to friends and neighbors who were marching either in DC or elsewhere. I don't knit, not very well and certainly not very quickly, so I opted to sew my cat hats instead.

I knew I wanted to make a lot!

It was to be my part in the march, make hats, donate my time and services toward the cause...Because, I wasn't planning to march myself.

It was something I debated for weeks...

I knew of many friends local and otherwise who intended to march and while I believed in the Woman's March and it's intention I couldn't get past my worry.

The more I tried to talk myself into wanting to go, the more I worried about the possible dangerous things that might happen not to mention the fact that large crowds make me extremely uncomfortable!

So, for me, my contribution was sewing up 68 fleece hats...

And then, as the day approached I began to waiver. I had spent days emailing folks in my neighborhood, whom I didn't know, about picking up their hats, about the march, about the sea of pink and I got excited. This was going to be something big! Something important! And then I began to realize, hey...we live so close, we have the luxury of "going with the flow", staying on the periphery (if it felt like that was the best thing) but still being a part. Aren't we lucky! And then it started to seem a little bit less scary, not to mention both kids had expressed an interest in going as well.

Once I realized that it clicked that this really was something, while it might make me feel uncomfortable, that was important to me. Something important to my family. A movement worthy of pulling on "my big girl panties" and donning my "pink pussy hat"...and off we went...

And something amazing happened. The crowds were there, immediately, on the metro, off the metro and then everywhere! I felt my hands begin to clam up a bit, but then...we looked around and while the crowds were there so too was a beautiful energy. The energy was meaningful, peaceful, and friendly. The crowds were so accepting that they didn't bother me.

We walked, we cheered, we chanted, we chatted, we marched...alongside all ages, races and sexes.

And our voices were heard!

And they will continue to be heard! There are phone calls to make, post cards to send and momentum to keep moving forward...

01/25/2017

Yes, I realize that it's nearly February. Yes, I realize I'm a little behind on the whole year in review thing. Maybe it doesn't even matter much really anyway... But for me, it's always fun too look back through the year and to put it all in one place....

01/19/2017

As we prepared for our "Winter Wonderland" trip over the Christmas break we took stock of what warm clothes and accessories we needed. The kids needed long underwear and I...needed a neck gaiter to keep warm on the slopes!

Fortunately for me, I had ordered a little bit extra wool from Imagine Gnats and used it to make myself a double sided wool neck gaiter. Fortunately for the kids, after our ski trip, I still had a tiny bit more wool and was able to pair it with some ponte from Imagine Gnats to make them each one as well...

These are really rather easy to make...it's essentially just sewing two tubes together.

To start, I cut two rectangular pieces of fabric ~17" x ~21"

Next, sew short sides right sides facing together with a 1/4" seam allowance, repeat with your other fabric. Now you have two tubes of fabric. Place one tube inside the other with the right sides together. Align the seams and raw edges and sew a 1/4" seam allowance along one side. Pull tubes out so that the right sides are facing out.

Tuck one tube inside the other with wrong sides facing...

Now, here comes the somewhat tricky part. It's a bit fiddly, and difficult to explain but...I'll do my best...Keeping the "body" of the tubes wrong sides facing pull/flip the remaining raw edges out/around so that they are actually right sides facing (align the seam together) and sew slowly around (being careful to only sew the edges not the body of the gaiter!) leaving about a 2" hole. Flip everything back around where it ought to be. Press the seams at the top and bottom of the gaiter and sew up the remaining hole. I simple machine stitched it, but you can use a slip stich/blind stitch if you want an invisible closure.

Now you've got a nice and long and warm neck gaiter to pull over your head and snuggle in to...

It's nice that it's a bit narrow and long...because it stays snug against your face and chin.

It's length allows you to pull it up over your nose (or your eyes if need be!)

And, it's reversible...which is always nice, but especially nice when you are talking about breathing into something during freezing cold, snowy weather!

Welcome...

I'm Jane, thanks for stopping by! I hope you take your time and take a look around...If you do you'll our adventures in sewing, creating, crafting, gardening and exploring...it's what gets us through the day and fullfills us!
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